TUCSON, Ariz. — A brave bobcat recently attempted to go to battle with one of the desert's most feared reptiles.
A video posted Monday by Saguaro National Park captured a bobcat repeatedly swatting at a rattlesnake as the snake tries to retreat into the desert shrubbery. The bobcat can be seen frantically jumping into the air as the venomous snake attempts to defend itself.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Video captura a un lince peleando contra una serpiente de cascabel
The 45-second clip showed an interaction rarely seen by residents between two of Arizona's most recognizable critters. SNP said the two animals moved further into the desert before it was clear who won the fight.
The video can be seen here.
Bobcats are known to eat a variety of small animals including rabbits, birds, lizards and snakes. Their fast-moving reflexes help them avoid the rattlesnake's toxic bite.
In 2018, a similar interaction was caught on camera in Scottsdale after a bobcat was seen attacking a rattlesnake on a local sidewalk. That incident ended with the wild cat strolling off with the snake in its mouth.
UP TO SPEED
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
